Float Fishing the Whirlpool/ Niagara Area

[Kyle Swanson]

Hey guys,

So I'm extremely new to float fishing, I've been to a Lake Ontario trib now floating for some salmon now that they've start to run. I'm in the Niagara area for school and it's never a good feeling having to fill the gas tank so many times traveling for fish. Looking to get more familiar with this area instead.

So I guess my question is what's a decent rig to start on the whirlpool or some other areas worth exploring and the best set up for that. Once fall comes along id absolutely love to get into some steelhead so some advice on tribs to check out for them and rigs for that!

At the moment I have a 11'6 float rod with a spinner reel with 10lb test mono, used egg Flys and single eggs.

Thanks guys!

 

[instapump416]

http://www.ontariofishingforums.com/forum/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=search&fromMainBar=1

 

[HittingTheChrome]

With your float rig maybe try running a slip float (lets you fish the deep pool in the whirlpool) with a marabou jig or roe bags and even tying on small spoons under your float and holding back on your float might be deadly some days. Plus the Niagara has some of the best steelhead fishing in all of ontario so maybe just try and get used to fishing there. Good luck.

 

[Kyle Swanson]

Thanks to both of you,

When it comes down to it in just going to have to use trial and error!

Thanks for your tips I'll look up how to properly rig a slip float, didn't think of tying a spoon to the float but sounds like not at bad idea at all!

And I've never fished for steelhead before so if I'm able to hook up with one once the time comes I'd be ecstatic!

Thanks again for help

 

[MuskieBait]

You can also fish streamers or any plastic resembling bait fish under the float. The Steelhead in Niagara feeds on a lot of bait fish from fall to spring.

Aside from slip float, you can also bottom bounce with slinky rig. In fact, I prefer bottom bouncing over float fishing on the Niagara.

 

[AaronKrick]

The river is currently a lettuce-infested bathtub

 

[tombo]

I second the plastic baitfish imitations. 10-11 ft below a float. Works pretty consistently down there. Enjoy the walk!

 

[Kyle Swanson]

Awesome, thanks guys. I want to head down soon, maybe Tomorow. The Salmon should have made it up that far I'd think by now? I'm not familiar with how the migrations works through there